Volunteering Opportunity: Hospital Ward Companion Volunteers with Communities 1st

This role is to support Acute Care and Community Hospitals situated throughout Hertfordshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes who are under increased pressures due to the pandemic. Whilst larger acute hospitals deal with emergency and planned treatment of medical conditions, smaller community hospitals are primarily nurse-led hospital units which support patients who need rehabilitation following their stay in an acute hospital or lower level inpatient support closer to the community. Given the ongoing pressures of the pandemic on hospital settings, volunteer support is urgently needed to support the multi-disciplinary teams at these hospitals in providing the best possible compassionate care to their patients.

Without volunteer support the hospitals would be unable to run an efficient and effective, person-centred treatment programme for their patients. The added pressure of COVID rehabilitation wards on site has increased the demand on the onsite team of busy medical professionals. The main purpose of a ward companion volunteer is to improve the comfort and emotional wellbeing of the patients through a consistent and compassionate presence. In addition to this pastoral responsibility there is also a requirement of some administrational support for the custodial staff at the hospital, assisting with answering calls and other practical tasks to facilitate day to day hospital activity during times of increased pressure.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Broxbourne, East Herts, Harlow, Stevenage

Start Date: 10/01/2022
End Date: 02/02/2023

Location: Indoor

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons, Weekday Evenings, Weekend Half Days

Practical Considerations: Onsite supervision and support will be available from clinical team whilst on shift. Appropriate training, support and guidance and shift scheduling would be provided through Communities 1st who will act as host for your volunteering role. Any support needs you have whilst in your volunteering role should be flagged with Communities 1st.

Ward Companion Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn new skills and gain a variety of valuable new interpersonal experiences. They will be working as a crucial part of a tight knit and caring team of medical professionals, supporting their lifesaving work and be a valuable and worthwhile part of the community. There will be great satisfaction gained by knowing you help to improve the experience of patients during their stay in hospital, contributing to their effective recovery.

Please be aware that there are currently COVID recovery wards onsite where to safeguard all, patients who have tested positive are segregated from the rest of the hospital. Volunteers are not permitted or requested to assist in this facility and although PPE will be provided and every precaution will be taken to safeguard volunteers from infection it is not advisable to apply for this role if you consider yourself to be clinically vulnerable or at increased risk.

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, University students, Older People

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Carers Support, Crisis Support, IT, Technology & Digital Inclusion

Full Description:
You will be asked to help with:
· Answering phones and taking messages
· Answering call bells and taking messages or reassuring patients that staff are coming
· Talking to confused patients, they often need a little more time and attention so that they remain settled and less anxious
· Help dishing out meals and drinks
· Helping patients use i-Pads to video call their families
· Restocking PPE and other supplies
· Putting away stock
· Working as part of the extended hospital team

Good interpersonal skills are essential – you must enjoy talking to people from all walks of life with a variety of interests and backgrounds. You should be able to make practical decisions based on the information presented to you in an often pressurised environment. You should be able to confidently and calmly respond to ever changing circumstances. Computer skills, good organisation and a good telephone manner are all attractive attributes. Previous experience working in a medical, pastoral or health and wellbeing setting would be extremely valuable but is not necessary. You should be able to demonstrate a compassionate character, a can do attitude and emotional resilience.

The ability to commit to consistent regular availability is preferred for daytime shifts Monday to Friday when the ward staff team are most active. Some out of hours evening and weekend shifts may be available when required. This role would not be well suited to ad-hoc availability but if a long term commitment could be made this would be considered. Shifts will generally be approximately 3 hours long but there may occasionally be some variation.

The expected shift patterns will be Monday -
Friday 9am-12pm
12pm-3pm
3pm-6pm